By Annabeth Miller, SMT Edtior
On Saturday evening, at the end of the Southeast Missouri All-District Choir concert, Malinda Mayo heard two words she had been hoping for, dreaming of, and was anxiously awaiting: Her name!
At the end of the All-District Choir presentation, the announcement of who has earned positions in the Missouri All-State Choir is traditionally a much-anticipated event. Earlier in the day juniors and seniors who have earned All-District honors have the opportunity to be judged once more – for All-State. And the announcement is a closely-held secret and a moment of great excitement and anticipation.
So Mayo stood there on the risers at Jackson High School. Waiting. Surrounded by other members of the junior-senior All-District Choir who were also vying for the 16 coveted spots. She was probably praying, nervous, maybe wringing her hands. Then she heard those two words little words she had been hoping to hear: “Malinda Mayo.”
Mayo is a senior at Dexter High School and is one just a handful of students from the Southeast District to be selected for Missouri All-State Choir. It is a goal the senior music student has been working toward since she was in the middle school and was member of the SEMO Junior High All-District Choir. She first saw this simple announcement ceremony as a young student and was inspired. Seeing the excitement, the thrill and the prestige given at the regional concert during the announcement each year has placed many students working on the path to earning All-State.
Mayo is one of four altos, and 16 total choral music students from the region to be selected. She will have the opportunity to travel in January to the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Tan-Tar-A. There, she will join other All-State choral students from throughout the ShowMe State for two intense days of rehearsal and finally a concert before hundreds of music educators, parents and friends.
“Malinda has always been a very hard-working student and I think this honor is due in a great measure to her hard work and her willingness to go the extra mile in her vocal studies,” said MaryRuth Boone. Boone, who retired at Dexter High School in May, teaches music at Three Rivers College and is Mayo’s private vocal music teacher. “I am extremely proud of her. I think this honor will help her future endeavors in studying music at the collegiate level tremendously.”
Mayo is the daughter of Malisa and Roger Mayo and has been an active member of the DHS Choirs throughout high school. She plans to pursue a degree involving music in college, although she is a bit uncertain where she will be head after graduation from DHS this May.
She has won top honors in vocal solos and ensembles in school at the District and State contest level, and participates each year in both voice and piano in the Music Festival sponsored by the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs.
“The Missouri All-State choir is one of our nation’s finest All-State ensembles, said DHS choir director Jaime Sepulvado. "Achieving such an honor will be one of the highlights in any high school students singing career. Malinda will be among the best vocal students from all over the state.”
